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But Mr Rotheram said both sides need to drop the demands and start talking.

He told the ECHO: "Last week, I wrote, along with the leaders of the six councils in the City Region, to both the RMT and Merseyrail calling on both sides to enter into independent conciliation without any pre-conditions.

The long-running row between Merseyrail and the RMT is about plans to remove guards on most Merseyrail trains (Image: Daily Mirror)

"I still believe that this is the best way to resolve the dispute and I would continue to urge both sides to agree to this as soon as possible."

The ECHO understands that Merseyrail have accepted Mr Rotheram’s offer.

In Parliament, Mr Carden said Merseyside was united behind the guard's position.

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He added: "The Welsh Government have now guaranteed a guard on every train for future franchises - and Scotland has made similar long-term arrangements.

“The shadow Secretary of State wrote to train operators last week to tell them that a Labour Government would halt any plans to extend DOO. Merseytravel’s former chairman, Mark Dowd, remains fully opposed to removing the guards, saying that 'common sense should prevail'."